August 13 - Jeremiah 20-22
Jeremiah had a difficult ministry in delivering God's word in a very sad time in the history of Israel. One of the things that made it more difficult was the specific nature of the word of God. Sometimes, God called on Jeremiah to speak a prophecy against a specific individual who was a leader of the people. In this passage we see several of them. Can you imagine the animosity that built up when he was called on to do this? The individual was upset with him, plus the people who supported that leader. This is a lesson for us today, too. We must not shy away from sharing a personal word of God with a specific individual when God lays His word on our hearts. This could be what turns them around, or it could be turned on us, but either way, it is a part of God's will, so we need to obey God.
When Jeremiah tried to stop speaking God's word because of the ridicule, he could not do it. The word of God was like a fire in his bones. It would have destroyed him to hold it in. (20:9b) I hope we all have such a compulsion to speak the word of God. It is an honor and a privilege, as well as a responsibility to allow God to use us to deliver His word to others.
One other thing stood out to me this morning. Look at chapter 21 and verses 8 and 9. God put before them "the way of life and the way of death." To have life they had to surrender to their enemies. If they refused to surrender, they would die. What kept them from surrendering? Fear and pride are two things which could have stopped them. God does not want us to act by fear and pride. He wants us to trust Him. Many people today miss God's will because of their fear or their pride. I urge you to put aside anything that stands between you and real life. Surrender to God today. He will give you real life, if you are not too afraid or too proud to accept it from Him on His terms.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 23-24.
When Jeremiah tried to stop speaking God's word because of the ridicule, he could not do it. The word of God was like a fire in his bones. It would have destroyed him to hold it in. (20:9b) I hope we all have such a compulsion to speak the word of God. It is an honor and a privilege, as well as a responsibility to allow God to use us to deliver His word to others.
One other thing stood out to me this morning. Look at chapter 21 and verses 8 and 9. God put before them "the way of life and the way of death." To have life they had to surrender to their enemies. If they refused to surrender, they would die. What kept them from surrendering? Fear and pride are two things which could have stopped them. God does not want us to act by fear and pride. He wants us to trust Him. Many people today miss God's will because of their fear or their pride. I urge you to put aside anything that stands between you and real life. Surrender to God today. He will give you real life, if you are not too afraid or too proud to accept it from Him on His terms.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 23-24.